December 8, 2018 AVOIDING SPIRITUAL DERAILMENT part 2
Hebrews 2:1 “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”
1 Timothy 4:15 “Be diligent in these things: give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all.”
Ephesians 4:24 “and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
As we said in the last blog, one of the main reasons for spiritual derailment is that of being disappointed with God and with the fact that things did not work out the way we expected and hoped for. If we are to go on to maturity in the Lord, we must get beyond being disappointed with God and with people. Since we tend to see whatever we are looking for, we must make sure that we are looking at life, and people, and circumstances in a way that is in keeping with life in the kingdom of God. We all live out of our core values -what we believe in the deepest part of our being; therefore, what our core values are is the all-important factor in how we live life. It’s not what we say we believe-it’s what we believe that matters. At some point, we have to come face-to-face, and perhaps even wrestle with the word of God; His word is sharper than any two edged sword and it penetrates and divides the soul. Hebrews 4:12. Do we believe, do we accept as true all that God has said in His word, or do we tend to filter His word through what we believe? There is a way for us to avoid spiritual derailment and disappointment and it comes down to what we believe. To begin with, many have a wrong view and understanding of the word of God because for the last one hundred years are so, we have heard a sub-standard gospel preached. (That’s another subject for another day.) If there is one clear truth in the word of God, it is that at salvation, we are made new creations with a new heart, a new mind, and a new spirit; the power of sin has been broken and we are set free form our old ways. Only as we know our true identity in the Lord can we live in such a way that our life is in complete harmony with the ways of God and only then can we enjoy God. Living out of our new identity totally transforms our view of life-including how we view, and how we deal with trials and difficulties. We must make sure that our expectations are based on the truth and in line with the teachings of scripture. For example, it is a faulty expectation to expect a life free of trials because the scriptures tell us that we will have trials. 1Peter 4:12-19 and John 16:23. As you read the New Testament you soon see that the life of the early believers was not a life of ease. We can avoid spiritual derailment when our life, the way we live, is grounded in our new identity as new creations. Sure, we will have tribulation, but we can overcome whatever the trial may be by responding out of our new person. No matter what is going on around us, we can be people who forgive, who love, who are kindhearted, who have compassion, who have hope, who encourage, who give, and who have a solid trust in God our Father in all situations. May we embrace all that God allows to come into our lives knowing that He is working our His purposes. There will be times when we hurt, when we weep-and that is ok, but God will comfort us in those times. Let us divest ourselves off any disappointment and discouragement and let us live in accordance to our true identity in Him, overcoming whatever comes our way.
1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Hebrews 2:1 “For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.”
1 Timothy 4:15 “Be diligent in these things: give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all.”
Ephesians 4:24 “and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”
As we said in the last blog, one of the main reasons for spiritual derailment is that of being disappointed with God and with the fact that things did not work out the way we expected and hoped for. If we are to go on to maturity in the Lord, we must get beyond being disappointed with God and with people. Since we tend to see whatever we are looking for, we must make sure that we are looking at life, and people, and circumstances in a way that is in keeping with life in the kingdom of God. We all live out of our core values -what we believe in the deepest part of our being; therefore, what our core values are is the all-important factor in how we live life. It’s not what we say we believe-it’s what we believe that matters. At some point, we have to come face-to-face, and perhaps even wrestle with the word of God; His word is sharper than any two edged sword and it penetrates and divides the soul. Hebrews 4:12. Do we believe, do we accept as true all that God has said in His word, or do we tend to filter His word through what we believe? There is a way for us to avoid spiritual derailment and disappointment and it comes down to what we believe. To begin with, many have a wrong view and understanding of the word of God because for the last one hundred years are so, we have heard a sub-standard gospel preached. (That’s another subject for another day.) If there is one clear truth in the word of God, it is that at salvation, we are made new creations with a new heart, a new mind, and a new spirit; the power of sin has been broken and we are set free form our old ways. Only as we know our true identity in the Lord can we live in such a way that our life is in complete harmony with the ways of God and only then can we enjoy God. Living out of our new identity totally transforms our view of life-including how we view, and how we deal with trials and difficulties. We must make sure that our expectations are based on the truth and in line with the teachings of scripture. For example, it is a faulty expectation to expect a life free of trials because the scriptures tell us that we will have trials. 1Peter 4:12-19 and John 16:23. As you read the New Testament you soon see that the life of the early believers was not a life of ease. We can avoid spiritual derailment when our life, the way we live, is grounded in our new identity as new creations. Sure, we will have tribulation, but we can overcome whatever the trial may be by responding out of our new person. No matter what is going on around us, we can be people who forgive, who love, who are kindhearted, who have compassion, who have hope, who encourage, who give, and who have a solid trust in God our Father in all situations. May we embrace all that God allows to come into our lives knowing that He is working our His purposes. There will be times when we hurt, when we weep-and that is ok, but God will comfort us in those times. Let us divest ourselves off any disappointment and discouragement and let us live in accordance to our true identity in Him, overcoming whatever comes our way.
1 Peter 1:6-7 “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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